Camp Griffin Nov 17, - 1861
Friend Elisa
                To night your able and
thoughtfull [sic] written letter came at hand since
I wrote you various changes in the climate also in
our Laborious and Military life we are as we
may say holding The Key to The Military Chess
board of The Potomac and in consequence of
holden a post pertaining to Reward [strikethrough] us [/strikethrough] and
honor it keeps us in constant activity Oh, how
diferent [sic] The life The fare of a Soldier to the
Free and happy man who saunters gaily the
streets and Public places of a peacble [sic] town
or Villiage [sic] the thoroughfares of cities The [----]
or have few of the south cavott cow pair with
The Stave [--] of the South canott [sic] compare with
The [--] [----] life of a Volunteer you may think
That I am discouraged I may say in one sense
I am. but if The [-]uly would use and Once think 
of The Poor Solder who is daily [--]ing himself


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by trying to do duty which there is no need
Of but alas the wise are doomed. Peace during
This war if it can be called so we are at pressent [sic]
Camped out what wonce [sic] a Southerners Plantation
it is now a fenceless and barren place but is yet
alive with the poor, lived drilling walking
Sentinels and [----] slate [-]akes as we term them
we are the advance or told the advance post
of The Potomac there is some Thirty Thousand
men encamped within the spaces of three
miles and we are the only Regiment that has
faced the Cannon, Oh! if I could get permission
from some power to Draft even in Vermont
I would bring a few of them black hearted
[---] Republicans that I have herd [sic] telling so
much of these fire eaters yarns these men that
would not give a cent or come within 50 miles
of a battle Field If  it would save the Union
they talk if they had command of The army of The
Potomac They would go strait [sic] to Richmond if ever
They go to Richmond it will be after we have been
There no I am not entirely homesick but


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if I was to home I would stay There but
at The same time if They will move on
towards Bull Run or send us to Port Royal as
we expect to soon  will be [strikethrough] se [/strikethrough] satisfied I have
not so cowardly hate to the Rebs but I 
would like to see Them make there way home as
fast as we have done. to give you my Opinion
I think it will be some time before we beat Them
probably The next new year here from here
will be of a serious nature probably will [strikethrough] a[----] [/strikethrough] awaken
The [----] of [Lusting?] to find a Bloodier
Battle. the advance is to be made soon and
and there many a poor fellow who is nobley
standing the privations of a soldiers life
for the cause will yes thousands and maybe
your humble servant change this life for a
life unknown to all. I have said that I would
not complain of what I had to do but when
They come to make Slaves out of white [---]
its time to complain Our brigade consisting of
The Vt’s are compelled to drive 4 times a day and
we are the only brigade we are aroused first


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thing in the morning by the D-ble sound
of an old  kettle drum for roll call then eat
A slate go and pack up your knapsack put
Everything you own in it and be drilled around
a [-]0 acre lot for an hour then come in and
draw railes then go out again for perhaps
2 hours then clean your guns eat some pea
Soup and drill till dark and then
Stand for Dress parade come in and run
like a pack of honies for a laud full of
doe, or or a cup full of what they call coffee
Come back and answer to your name go
to grand and sleep and all account of The
Officers who do  not know how to drill
                                                 I have complained
Longe[sic] enough tell Katie Rush I should here
from here by letter and tell her I will answer
now be shure [sic] and answer This [strikethrough] write [/strikethrough] soon
tell Luke to stay to home Jo would like to
be in Brandon now give my love to all [---]
Not forgetting yourself No more at present
I Remain  yours Truly Biley
P.S the weather is freezing and it is cold
Sleeping in tents now         Direct Camp
Griffin Co B 2nd Vt Regt Washington
W McKeand to                    DC
                 Eliz Guilty